But remember kids: America CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES afford guaranteed healthcare, education, shelter, food, or pensions.

Or for that matter, a functioning postal service.

There's a saying that goes something like "generals always fight the last war".

When I was a kid and the cold war was still going on, we were just adding our 7th naval carrier group. We're up to 11 now. We have a total of 19 carriers while the rest of the world put together has 12 total. That's just one example of us spending money in piles and piles to prepare ourselves for... fuck if I know, another cold war? A world war with us against the world? What does having 11 carrier groups do for us to defend the U.S. against the threats we deal with today? Or tomorrow?

At this point, they exist for three reasons... to tell Americans that the politicians are keeping them safe from all those scary non-Americans (mostly brown people). To bludgeon our way through "diplomacy" with other countries. And to keep afloat the defense industry.

Only there's a lot better ways to spend money like that. Make education free. Provide a real safety net for Americans. Universal healthcare. Heck, throw it at NASA and get about a tenfold return in new industries from the scientific discoveries.

Our standard of living relative to other countries is declining because we spend a stupid amount of our GDP on our military. And the other countries that do spend as much or more of a percentage of their GDP on military are pretty much what we'd refer to as banana republics.

Of course the problem with carriers is while they're great at projecting power, they're going to be increasingly vulnerable to trans-sonic missiles.

Rule 1: no matter how big the deficit is and how many people are starving in the streets, the Pentagon MUST have every penny it asks for.
After all, you don't want to be ruled by Russia, do you?

Yeah, wouldn't want that.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

All that money that could be going to help people--i.e., for education, food assistance, job training, etc. Such a waste.

They're actually saying the quiet part out loud this time. This ain't for our soldiers, our sailors, or other members of our military: It's for the blood merchants who make their fortunes on finding new ways for humans to kill each other en masse.

They need to follow Trump's example.

When things get a little rough.

File for bankruptcy.

P.S. Any company that has a Washington lobbyist should be banned from getting taxpayer money.

But not till you've artificially inflated the value, and mortgaged it to the hilt. Then you can declare bankruptcy.

https://twitter.com/CoolPer...

and yet, all Trump can spare is a one time payment of $1200 for the average worker.

While Canada has already begun sending $2k a month to every Canadian adult, and will keep doing so for the duration of the crisis.

Louisiana is doling out $600 a week, on top of the regular unemployment benefits.

Because Nancy made them.

Right. I realize her hand in this.

But her fridge! She's got a big fridge!
(No joke; this is actually an argument from certain of my twitter follows. She cannot sympathise with working-class people because she's got an expensive-looking fridge. Smh.)

'She can't sympathize with working-class people because her car fenders aren't held on with duct tape!'

They are??

Meanwhile, AOC is a mere bartender and has no business in Congress, from what i hear.

Leaving completely aside the fact that she graduated from Boston University cum laude, it really does show what they think of actual working-class people. To have an 'unskilled' job makes you the salt of the earth, unless you understand why you're so badly paid.
... Of course, maybe 'working people' in the US is some kind of dog-WHIsTlE? Might that be the case?

Are any other states doing this...or planning to?

As I understand it, the CARES act provided for an extra $600 a week, regardless of which state. Until late July.

Thanks. I'm in NJ and haven't received the extra $600 per week yet.

Really?? I'm self employed, could use a boost.

Any keywords for a Google search?

Thanks. Here in NJ, I haven't seen it yet.

You have to have filed for unemployment.

I did and am receiving the usual payment. I haven't seen the additional $600 per week yet.

There's almost a two week delay for the extra $600. I just got my first $600 today for my first week of unemployment which was April 6.

Did you receive it with (or separate from) your regular payment?
Also, was it in the form of a direct deposit, a check, or a debit card?

It was separate from my regular Unemployment via direct deposit, which is the way I get my Unemployment. I've gotten two unemployment deposits and one $600 deposit.

Thanks.

Good Luck. I'd imagine getting through to Unemployment is nearly impossible. I remember having to call them years ago during "normal" times and it was a pain in the ass to get through.

They currently won't even let you leave a message or stay on the line and wait to speak to rep. They tell you, instead, to call back tomorrow...
...which will just result in more of the same.

Thanks. I've been receiving regular unemployment since April 7th.

The US does not need to be armed to the teeth when there are many social programs that could put those resources to a far better uses

Beware of defense contractors, er, the military-industrial complex.

Ike must be spinning in his grave.

The. Military industrial complex needs to be fed. That happens long before anything else, as we slip slide merrily into a national debt above 30 trillion.

What's the % Trump skims off the top?

How about no?

At a minimum, how about no stock buy backs with the $$$?

As much as I hate it, for a national security standpoint you cant have Boeing collapse

I thought the way the system works it that if a company needs to raise cash they sell sock in their company. Oh, but that would reduce the value of the stock already owned by the 1% so we don't do that anymore.

It does. However, through their own greed and stupidity, the Pentagon through its revoliving door to K street, has allowed the MI Complex to consolidate into just a few behemoths, which are now on the verge of collapse. By opening them up to foreign capital, at fire sale prices, we risk losing control of strategic assets.

Oh hell no! No billions for "Defense contractors!! This is fucking ridiculous!

Now wait a minute. A budget has already been passed, and funds allocated. You already have ALL the money that you would have paid those contractors in the next year - so why would you need more? Oh wait - that's right. You gave away a chunk you said you didn't need to build a wall somewhere...

let them eat hexagonal locking devices at $50/ea.

Please explain to me why we are spending money on a military that has not won a war since WW2 because they are still frighting like there are battle lines while the rest of the world has moved on. This is one area where donald could actually learn something from Putin.